The Hindu Business Line : Mahindra steers into lifestyle SUV niche with Scorpio Getaway

"It is market speculation in the context of the statement made by Mr Carlos Ghosn, President and CEO, Nissan-Renault during his visit to India. Mr Ghosn had said that the country was ideal for production of small cars. Currently, we have no plans and neither Mahindra nor Renault is aware of the origin of such speculation," said Mr Rajesh Jejurikar, Executive Vice-President, Marketing and Sales, Automotive Sector, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd, on the sidelines of the launch of Scorpio Getaway.

Priced at Rs 6.99 lakh for the two-wheel drive and Rs 7.99 lakh for the four-wheel drive at ex-showroom in Mumbai, Scorpio Getaway is powered by 2600 cc common rail diesel engine. It is estimated to deliver 115 bhp at 3800 rpm and 28.3 kgm torque at 1800 rpm

Since its launch in 2002, Scorpio has sold about 1.5 lakh units. "We believe that the new model of Scopio Getaway will redefine the SUV market. With this launch, we expect overall sales of Scorpio to go up," said Mr Jejurikar.

After launching it in South Africa a few months ago, Scorpio Getaway has sold about 200 units there and recently was introduced in Australia.

US launch

"Unlike the earlier version of Scorpio that was positioned as a city vehicle, the new product is targeted in the lifestyle category in the SUV segment. While the market in this segment is enormous in the US, it is evolving in India and we would like to lead this new category. We would launch it in the US in 2009," he said.

Meanwhile, Mr Anand Mahindra, who was awarded "entrepreneur of the year" by the Ludhiana Management Association, announced plans to invest Rs 100 crore in the IT sector in Ludhiana.

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